ATA Seeks Congressional Backing on Tolls Amendment
B>Click here for the full text of the ATA leter.
merican Trucking Associations President Bill Graves sent a letter to House members seeking support of an amendment to the federal highway bill that would only allow new tolls on new interstate highways.
raves wrote members urging support of the amendment, sponsored by Reps. Mark Kennedy (R-Minn.) and Adam Smith (D-Wash.).
Tolling existing interstates would have a devastating impact on the trucking industry,” Graves wrote in the letter, dated Monday. “Toll rates could exceed by many times over the industry’s profit margin, which is just two to four cents per mile,” he wrote.
he letter said that provisions in the current highway bill would allow extensive tolling of existing interstate highways, “precisely what a majority of the House voted against last year.”
Most trucking companies are small businesses, operating six or fewer trucks, and would find it difficult to compete if faced with high tolls,” Graves wrote. “The harm to the trucking industry would soon be felt throughout the economy.”
e wrote that trucks haul 87% of the nation’s freight, by value, and that one in 15 jobs in the U.S. economy is trucking-related.
Following is the text of ATA President Bill Graves’ March 7 letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives:
When the House takes up the highway reauthorization bill (H.R. 3) this week, I urge you to support the Kennedy (MN)-Smith (WA) amendment on tolls.similar amendment offered by Congressmen Mark Kennedy and Adam Smith last year was adopted on the House floor. The trucking industry was extremely disappointed that, in spite of a recorded vote on the floor in favor of the Kennedy—Smith amendment, it was stripped from H.R. 3. The tolling provisions now in the bill would allow extensive tolling of existing Interstate highways, precisely what a majority of the House voted against last year.
olling existing Interstates would have a devastating impact on the trucking industry. Tolls could exceed by many times over the industry’s average profit margin, which is just two to four cents per mile. Most trucking companies (over 85%) are small businesses, operating 6 or fewer trucks, and would find it difficult to compete if faced with high tolls. The harm to the trucking industry would soon be felt throughout the economy. America depends on truckers to haul 87% of the nation’s freight, by value. One of every 15 jobs in the American economy is trucking-related. To further demonstrate the importance of the trucking industry, I’ve attached some facts that you might find interesting about trucking in your state.
hope you will support the Kennedy—Smith amendment, which would allow tolls to fund new capacity on the Interstate System. New capacity would be financed by the tolls collected. The Highway Trust Fund could be reserved to fix existing Interstates with the fuel taxes and other highway user fees already paid by the trucking industry and motorists. This year’s amendment also makes clear that existing congestion pricing projects would be allowed to continue.
hank you for your support of the Kennedy-Smith amendment and the trucking industry.
incerely,
Bill Graves
